Fire Starter: Slim Da Mobster

We all know Dr. Dre has an ear for beats, but the West Coast superproducer also has a keen sense of recognizing upcoming lyrical talent.

Dre's The Chronic launched Snoop Dogg's career, and his second solo album, 2001, helped solidify Eminem as a serious talent to pay attention to in the game. With his third opus on the way, the good doctor has tapped South Central rookie Slim Da Mobster to contribute to Detox, alongside heavyweights like Lil Wayne and T.I.

"I'm not even focused on my album right now," Slim told us in Los Angeles. "I'm all about his album. 'Cause the better I do on that, the better it is for the situation with my album."

Da Mobster might be new on the scene, but the Los Angeles rhyme-spitter impressed Eminem so much that he pushed to have him ink a deal.

After getting the co-signs from the big homies Dre and Em, 50 Cent was the next to jump onboard behind the young rapper. Now, Slim Da Mobster is the first artist signed to all three artists, representing G-Unit/Shady/Aftermath.

To add to the repertoire, Slim is managed by industry veteran John Monopoly, who helped usher Kanye West from producer to breakthrough artist.